Description:The Long Blondes have certainly produced one of the most stylish of indie albums with their debut, Someone to Drive You Home. Sure, they're signed to legendary indie label Rough Trade, but at their heart, the Long Blondes are a great pop band. Even if her voice isn't the strongest, Frontwoman Kate Jackson is one rock's coolest leading ladies since Blondie's Deborah Harry, and she manages to pitch the balance just right between coquettish sex kitten and strong-willed modern woman. It's no mean feat, but just listen to her deliver the chorus "You're only nineteen for god's sake, you don't need a boyfriend," on "OnceThe Long Blondes have certainly produced one of the most stylish of indie albums with their debut, Someone to Drive You Home. Sure, they're signed to legendary indie label Rough Trade, but at their heart, the Long Blondes are a great pop band. Even if her voice isn't the strongest, Frontwoman Kate Jackson is one rock's coolest leading ladies since Blondie's Deborah Harry, and she manages to pitch the balance just right between coquettish sex kitten and strong-willed modern woman. It's no mean feat, but just listen to her deliver the chorus "You're only nineteen for god's sake, you don't need a boyfriend," on "Once and Never Again", and you'll be convinced. Of course, much of the credit should go to lyricist Dorian Cox, who wrote all but two of the tracks here, and manages, much like Jarvis Cocker, to sound literate without becoming too pretentious. And the band themselves, who wrote the music and are responsible for keeping things light and catchy, and preventing the songs from turning into a shambolic mess. At its best, Someone to Drive You Home is full of jangly guitars and danceable energy, like on "Lust in the Movies" and the Jackson-penned "Madame Ray". The Long Blondes have written an album for the kids, but one with plenty of depth as well. It's like Pulp have arrived for a whole new generation. --Ted Kord... (more)(less)